The Brooklyn Nets haven’t picked this high in 16 years. So when Sean Marks stepped to the podium Tuesday night and called Mikel Brown Jr.’s name at No. 6, he wasn’t just drafting a guard out of Louisville. He was putting his job and the entire rebuild on the kid’s shoulders.
The choice was controversial, at least among fans. Brooklyn passed on Darius Acuff Jr., the hometown favorite who had the Barclays Center crowd buzzing. But Marks said Brown’s skill set was simply too good to ignore.
“Watching him play, just how dynamic he is as a playmaker and scorer, the pace at which he plays the game — it stood out,” Marks said. “He’s a cerebral player, has really great feel. It’s just exciting to get a guy like that who has some intangible skills as well, when you look at how athletic he is, the speed at which he can play. Those things translate to our league.”
Brown missed most of his freshman season with a back injury. League sources told ClutchPoints the issue is not lingering. In 21 games, he averaged 18.2 points and 4.7 assists while shooting 41% from the floor and 34.4% from three. His breakout came against NC State, when he dropped 45 points and hit 10 threes.
At 6-foot-4 with a long frame and explosive athleticism, Brown has the physical tools that can’t be taught. Marks pointed to his shooting range and leaping ability as things that will translate immediately.
“We’ll see glimpses of that next season,” Marks said. “We’ll see highlights as he gets his first couple of seasons under his belt, and you’ll see everything else come with it.”
Brown’s game isn’t perfect. He averaged 3.1 turnovers and posted a 51.1 effective field goal percentage. Shot selection and decision-making need work. But the Nets are banking on his work ethic and feel for the game, something Marks noticed when he spent time with Brown and No. 28 pick Josh Jefferson.
“Mikel and Josh are students of the game,” Marks said. “I loved spending time with them and hearing the knowledge they had — not only about the current Nets roster and Jordi, but about the game itself.”
The Nets met with Brown three times before the draft, including an in-home visit in Orlando with his family. That personal connection mattered. Marks was struck by Brown’s character, how he treats teammates, how he talks about breaking bread with the guys.
“It’s really important to see what makes these guys tick, where they come from, why they have the habits they have,” Marks said. “It was an absolute pleasure to meet Mikel’s parents and get to see his family background.”
For Brown, the pressure of being the highest pick of the Brooklyn era is something he welcomes. The 20-year-old said he’s ready to be an impact guy from day one.
“I welcome any kind of pressure that comes,” Brown said. “Pressure is privilege. I don’t look at it as pressure. It’s just the expectations people have set, but I also set expectations for myself.”
He talked about what it means to represent Brooklyn — the past legends, the pride everyone in the borough carries. He choked up a little mentioning it.
“To be able to represent and come in and have the same mentality of ‘We’re representing it,’ it’s not just about you. It means the world.”
The Nets grabbed Egor Demin at No. 8 last year. Now Brown steps in as the centerpiece. Two drafts, two potential cornerstones. The rebuild has a face now. Whether that face delivers will determine if Marks keeps his job.
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